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Course specification
The current and official versions of the course specifications are available on the web at .
Please consult the web for updates that may occur during the year.

ENG8411 Masters Engineering Research Project A

Semester 2, 2020 On-campus Toowoomba
Short Description: Masters Eng Resch Proj A
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
School or Department : Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
Student contribution band : Band 2
ASCED code : 039999 - EnginTech not classified
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Requisites

Pre-requisite: ENG8001 and normally have a GPA greater than 3.5 and completed 50% of the courses in the program

Other requisites

Recommended prior study: ENG3902 Recommended concurrent study: ENG4903.

Rationale

Project work undertaken by individuals is a central part of engineering and spatial science practice. At the professional level project work routinely involves research in the sense that there are non-standard requirements to be met and non-standard problems to be overcome. This course, combined with ENG8412 Masters Engineering Research Project B (or ENG8414 Masters Engineering Research Project D, prepares the student for professional-level technical project work. With the guidance of supervisor/s, the student will augment, integrate and demonstrate skills spanning both the technical and non-technical dimensions of engineering and spatial science at the professional level. The project (ENG8411 immediately followed by ENG8412 or ENG8414) will develop and test the ability to define and analyse the problem, to develop solutions to the problem, to make the necessary decisions, convert ideas into useful outcomes and to cope with the unexpected problems encountered in testing and evaluation. All of this must be accomplished in a tight timeframe, within resource limitations and with due regard for safety, social and ethical considerations.

Synopsis

The project (comprising ENG8411 Masters Engineering Research Project A immediately followed by ENG8412 Masters Engineering Research Project B) is intended to integrate and augment the student's total formal knowledge by means of its application to a real problem at the appropriate professional level. This course (being the first half of the project) will comprise firstly the selection, negotiation and approval of a project topic appropriate to the student's major study. Following this the student will (i) research the background, context and literature, (ii) develop an appropriate methodology, (iii) demonstrate a sound appreciation of the overall task and its constraints by formal reporting, and (iv) make substantial progress in the execution of the work.

Objectives

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

  1. commence and make appropriate progress in a major technical task;
  2. find and critically review the quality and value of information from published literature and other contextual sources;
  3. identify sustainability, safety and ethical issues associated with a major technical task;
  4. define the goals, determine an appropriate methodology, a realistic schedule, and the resource requirements for the execution of a major technical task involving research;
  5. provide an appropriately structured progress report on a major technical task;
  6. establish, manage and maintain appropriate interaction and reporting with the designated supervisor during all phases of a major technical task.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. Project work in which students will plan, commence and make substantial progress in an individual, generally open-ended task which will encompass a range of technical skills appropriate to the student's major study. These will include ALL of the following: literature research and evaluation; determination of consequences; and planning and self management. 30.00
2. Project work tasks will also include some (and often many) of the following: planning and management; feasibility assessment; experimental work and trialling; fieldwork; data analysis; design; prototype construction and testing; simulation and modelling; financial analysis. 40.00
3. Project work will be undertaken with the guidance of a supervisor/s appointed from the academic staff of the Faculty. Sponsors and technical advisors external to the Faculty may also be involved. 10.00
4. Report writing. 20.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=02&subject1=ENG8411)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

There are no texts or materials required for this course.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Lectures 2.00
Private 精东传媒app 33.00
Project Work 90.00
Report Writing 15.00
Supervisor Consultation 15.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Objectives Assessed Notes
TOPIC ALLOCATION 1 22 Jul 2020 1 (see note 1)
PROJECT SPECIFICATION 1 05 Aug 2020 1 (see note 2)
PARTICIPATION 1 1 14 Oct 2020 1,6 (see note 3)
PROGRESS REPORT 100 99 14 Oct 2020 1,2,3,4,5,6 (see note 4)

Notes
  1. Refer to Assessment Note 2 in the Assessment Notes of the Course Specification.
  2. Refer to Assessment Note 3 in the Assessment Notes of the Course Specification.
  3. The Participation assessment item will be assessed based on the student's participation throughout the semester. Please refer to the course 精东传媒appDesk for details.
  4. Refer to Assessment Note 4 and 5 in the Assessment Notes of the Course Specification.

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    Students must attend the start of semester introductory session/s and must attend project supervision meetings (normally weekly) as negotiated with or directed by their nominated supervisor/s.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily students must meet the requirements of the item as set out in the ENG8411/ENG8412/ENG8414 Project Reference Book.

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    To be assured of a passing grade a student must FIRSTLY complete each of the four (4) assessment items satisfactorily (which will result in the temporary grade of IIP (Incomplete In Progress) being awarded for this course). Students who fail the Participation assessment item will be awarded a fail grade for this course. SECONDLY, in the semester immediately following (semester 1 or 2, whichever occurs first), students must satisfactorily complete the course ENG8412 Masters Engineering Research Project B (or ENG8414 Masters Engineering Research Project D). The passing grade awarded will then be the same for both ENG8411 and ENG8412 (or ENG8414). Students who do not complete course ENG8412 (or ENG8414 as appropriate) in the semesters immediately following (as above) will be regraded FNC (Fail - Did Not Complete) in course ENG8411.

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grade will be determined on the basis of the ENG8412 ( or ENG8414) dissertation which will encompass the entire ENG8411 plus ENG8412 (or ENG8414) Research Project.

  6. Examination information:
    There is no examination in this course.

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Not applicable.

  8. 精东传媒app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene 精东传媒app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. Students must familiarise themselves with the USQ Assessment Procedures (

  2. TOPICS AND SUPERVISORS (Assessment No. 1). (i) Students who have not indicated topic preferences or made an acceptable topic proposal (as set out in the ENG8411/2 Project Reference Book) by the date indicated above will normally be dropped from the course. (ii) Both project topics and supervisors will be allocated by the examiner on the advice of one of the assistant examiners and will depend on the student's major study, staff availability for supervision and, as far as practicable, student preferences. (iii) It is the responsibility of students to maintain regular communication with the supervisors, normally weekly or as required by the supervisor/s, and to keep whatever records of progress the supervisor/s may require (eg a log book).

  3. PROJECT SPECIFICATION (Assessment No. 2). (i) An individual project specification will be developed by the student and supervisor for each project (spanning ENG8411 Masters Engineering Research Project A and ENG8412 Masters Engineering Research Project B (or ENG8414 Masters Engineering Research Project D), endorsed by the student, the supervisor and the assistant examiner/examiner. (ii) A revised project specification will be written during the program of the project if the work diverges significantly from the original project conception and endorsed by the student, the supervisor and assistant examiner/examiner. (iii) The project specification will be used for management and assessment purposes throughout the duration of the project, ie including course ENG8412 (or ENG8414).

  4. PROGRESS REPORT (Assessment No. 3). (i) The Progress Report shall be submitted in accordance with the guidelines and requirements set out in the ENG8411/8412/ENG8414 Project Reference Book. (ii) A Progress Report which is unsatisfactory, in part or as a whole, must be reworked and resubmitted until satisfactory, as directed by the Examiner. (iii) Students whose project Progress Report is not satisfactory by the due date will be graded IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up) or F (Fail).

  5. Harvard (AGPS) is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use Harvard (AGPS) style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide.

Date printed 6 November 2020